Meet Rachel.

Rachel glows from the inside out. She is a well educated and intelligent woman and is  a pleasure to converse with. She is an example of a nurturing and loving mother. She is so faithful and so kind. There’s so much to say about this beautiful woman, but let her answers speak for her, just a little. 

How has being a mother changed the person you are, and once hoped to become?
I’ve always wanted to be a mother. Ever since I was a young girl, it’s all I really knew I wanted to be when I “grew up.” That being said, motherhood has changed me. It’s so much harder but more rewarding than I ever imagined. Maybe it’s the years of sleep deprivation, but I certainly feel less creative and spontaneous than I used to be. I used to be really book-smart, and honestly somewhat prideful about it. Now I realize how much I really don’t know. Motherhood is really humbling. I got a degree in Elementary Education, and although I know how to control a classroom of 30 ten-year-olds, all that goes out the window and I still make mistakes every day raising 4 rambunctious, funny, head-strong little individuals. I’ve gained quite the appreciation for our Father in Heaven, who not only knows each of us personally, but also loves us, faults and all. And He doesn’t make parenting mistakes with a single one of us!

I don’t have as much time for my own personal interests right now in life, but they aren’t gone. They are just quietly tucked away until there is a time when I can nurture them again and hopefully share them with my children. As my older children are getting out of toddlerhood, I’m realizing that I can start to share those things with them, and hopefully encourage my kids to develop their own unique interests and talents. And that is truly rewarding.

Motherhood has come with sacrifices, but the things I’ve gained from it are so, so worth it. I understand now what unconditional love is. There is literally nothing in the world that my children can do that would make me stop loving them. I think I’m less selfish now. The thing about motherhood is, even though I spend my days putting my kids first, it doesn’t really feel like sacrifice because I want to do it. I want them to experience all the good this life has to offer. I’ve already gotten to soak in so much of this great world, and now it’s their turn and their time. I’m grateful that I get to be there to guide them through it and watch the wonder on their faces as they get to experience their “firsts.” Whether it be a first step, their first time seeing fireworks, or even the first time they get their heart broken, there is something so special about being able to be the one to share it with them, to be “mom.” It’s a little bit of heaven on earth.

If you had 5 things to teach your children, and only 5, what would those be?
1. Know that you are loved. Even in your darkest hour, you are never alone and never unloved. You are special just because you are you. Don’t ever feel like you aren’t enough. Your worth is so much greater than you can even comprehend, and you are infinitely loved by your family here and your Father in Heaven.

2. Learn to trust in the Lord’s plan for you. You guys are like your parents, which means you are pretty stubborn. You’re going to make plans in life, and it’s good to make plans, but just know that life won’t always go according to your plan. You’ll be so much happier if you learn to let it go when things don’t go your way. It’ll be hard– believe me, I know! Just have trust that what the Lord has planned for you will be eternally better than anything you could have planned for yourself. Sometimes that means working through some hard times first, but it will be worth it.

3. Learn to work hard. Life is great and there are lots of fun things to do out there, but you’ll find great pride in yourself and in your life if you learn to work hard. Set some goals that might seem difficult at first. It will be so rewarding when you realize that your hard work paid off. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish with hard work and help from God.

4. Don’t bother comparing yourself with others around you. Nobody else has ever lived with the exact same blessings and trials that you have. Not even your siblings or friends. No one else has your talents or struggles. That means that even if someone goes through the exact same experience as you, they won’t handle it the same. And that’s okay! There will be people in your life who make is seem like “things” are really important: what clothes you wear, how popular you are, how smart you are. Worry less about what others are thinking about you, and more about what the Lord thinks of you. He isn’t judging you against your peers or family or neighbors. He’s only compares you against yourself. Try hard to be a better person than you were yesterday, and you won’t go wrong.

5. Always be thankful. Never forget the One who blessed you with everything you have. Thank your Father in Heaven every day for your blessings and for the wonderful opportunities you’ve been afforded. Gratitude breeds humility and joy. When you are going through a tough trial, and you feel like cursing God or asking “Why?!” try saying “Thank you” instead. You may not feel grateful for your trial, but find something to be grateful about. Look for the good instead of focusing on the bad and you’ll be a happier person. You’ll be able to feel the Lord’s arms around you, lifting you up and holding you through your trial. You’ll realize how much easier it is to get through hard times with the Lord by your side, and you can recognize Him better in your life if you show gratitude.

What do you believe it means to truly love someone?
True love means being able to fart in front of someone and not worry about what they might think of you.

Seriously though, to truly love someone means you care more about them than you care about yourself. It means you trust them enough to expose your vulnerabilities and insecurities to them. And when they, in turn, show you their vulnerabilities, faults and insecurities, true love means you nurture the trust they put in you. Even when someone has shown you their worst self, true love allows you to say “You are wonderful. You are beautiful. I am so blessed to have you in my life.”

I think, when you truly love someone, you get a glimpse of how the Lord sees that person. Instead of focusing on their faults and fumblings, you see the good, the potential, and the infinite worth of the one you love. Are the faults still there? Yep! Are they infuriating sometimes? And how! But that’s not what’s most important. Because when you truly love someone you’ll gladly put up with the imperfect, rather than dealing with the alternative of not having that person in your life.

What are some of your favorite things?
-Snuggles. I like both the baby/kid kind and the husband variety. Both are wonderful.
-Chocolate, enough said.
-The ocean. For a born desert-rat and someone who has always lived in land-locked states, I can’t begin to tell you how much I adore the ocean.
-Finishing an amazing book at 2 AM. So worth it!
-Music. I seriously need music in my life. It can help brighten my day, motivate me, relax me… My kids know that as long as Mom is singing, she’s doing alright.

How have you found joy in the journey of life?
This is something that I’m constantly working on. Some times it’s easier than others. Recently, I’ve been trying to focus on the little things in life that bring me joy. My baby’s gummy smile, a lilac tree full of butterflies, walking out in the sunshine with my kids. They all remind me that I am loved. They remind me of my Heavenly Father who cares about me and wants me to have joy in life.

On days that are tough, I try to find the silver lining. Sometimes it’s something as simple as a late-night treat with my husband after the kids are finally in bed. Some days it’s “Well, I kept everyone alive today, and my pillow sure is soft.” There is always something positive in every day.

The hardest times, for me, are when I’m going through a big trial in life. I’m not a patient person by nature, and so when it seems like I’ve been going through the same tough spot for a long time, I tend to let it bog me down and block out the good that is in my life. I remember a lyric to a song that says “Every rock we stumble across can be a stepping stone.” That little line has really helped me through my big struggles. It helps re-focus me on what the Lord wants me to learn from the hard times in life. Instead of tripping myself up over the same “rocks” in life, I can use them to be progressing towards something better. I have a lot of faith that everything will be perfectly wonderful in the end. If things in life aren’t perfectly wonderful yet, well it just means I’m not done with what I need to do.